The Stone Sloop Albert Baldwin

I’ve been waiting fruitlessly for a Nor’easter snowstorm to post a winter photograph. It looks like tomorrow’s little storm could be my last opportunity, so I’m taking it. This is the Sloop Albert Baldwin, iced in off Rocky Neck. The 90 foot long Baldwin was built in 1890 at the James and Tarr shipyard in Essex. She was designed with extra reinforcement for transporting granite along the New England coast. The pilings in the photo are remnants of the Rocky Neck ferry pier, which was at the present public parking lot. Abandoned and derelict, the sloop was still rotting away when I came to Gloucester in 1980. About ten years later, the Sloop Albert Baldwin was cut up and hauled away.

Printed from the original 5×7 inch film negative in my darkroom. Image #A8857-149

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6 comments

Thanks for printing that, Fred. I’ve seen the Baldwin there many times and in several pictures but, this is the first one I’ve seen where she is afloat. I’m still looking for a picture of her under sail. She was owned by the Rockport Granite Co. I’ve found several of her tied up but with other boats or piles of granite blocking a clear view of her.

I’v got Leavitt’s book and while the Baldwin is mentioned in two places, there is no picture of her.
I have a postcard of her in Lanesville but most of the boat is obscured by the wharf(it was taken at low tide).

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As long as supplies last if any GMG folks want a bumper sticker but can't drop down the dock, just send a self addressed and stamped envelope longer then 7 and a half inches and I'll drop one in the mail for you.

Send the self addressed and stamped envelope to the dock at 95 East Main St Gloucester Ma 01930 care of Joey (put my name in big letters to make sure it gets to me)

Free GMG Gloucester Sticker

As long as supplies last if any GMG folks want a bumper sticker but can't drop down the dock, just send a self addressed and stamped envelope longer then 7 and a half inches and I'll drop one in the mail for you.

Send the self addressed and stamped envelope to the dock at 95 East Main St Gloucester Ma 01930 care of Joey (put my name in big letters to make sure it gets to me)